For the second consecutive year, a portion of Texas County became a horsemanship mecca for a week in June.
Hundreds of horse enthusiasts gathered at Golden Hills Trail Rides and Resort near Raymondville Sunday (June 21) through Saturday (June 27) for the second annual Mustang Family Reunion Ride. The week was highlighted by horsemanship instruction by 10 trainers, or “clinicians,” many who are nationally renowned in their field, and some who have their own TV shows (including Ken McNabb, of Greybull, Wyo., Julie Goodnight, of Poncha Springs, Colo., and Steve Smith, of Scurry, Texas.).
The “natural horsemanship” event was put on by Laura and Eric Dawson, of LoneStar L Ranch in Lexington, Texas. Attendees included individuals and families from many states, including Florida, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. Dawson said plans are being made for a third “Reunion Ride” next June at Golden Hills, and similar events at venues on the West and East Coasts. She said the two new events would likely be condensed to about four days and feature fewer clinicians.
“I have a lot of interest from people who want to be involved but said it’s kind of a long haul to get to the center of the country,” Dawson said.
Dawson said she believes the concept of gathering lots of horse people and trainers in one place for an extended period is still new, but has a bright future.
“I’m convinced this a great idea,” she said. “People here are happy and they’re learning lots of things, and I know this is making a big difference for a lot of them. I have folks coming up to me and crying, saying, ‘thanks for doing this.’”
Dawson said the name of the event depicts its connection to people who support the cause of wild mustangs, but while many participants own and ride mustangs, all horses and riders are welcome.
“Even though we start with a core of mustang family and a lot of us are mustang enthusiasts, it really is all breeds, all ages, all skill levels and all disciplines,” she said. “A lot of people don’t quite know what to make of this event, because nothing like it exists anywhere else. But it’s about people who want to learn more about horses, and want to do it in a natural horsemanship way.”
Dawson said Golden Hills is an ideal location for ambitious the event.
“There was a clinician or two who weren’t so sure on their way here,” she said, “because they went from a big road, to a smaller road, to an even smaller road and found themselves in the middle of nowhere. But when they got here, they were charmed by the atmosphere and everything this facility has to offer and were very pleased with the whole experience.”
For more about the Mustang Family Reunion Ride, call 512-809-5250 or log onto www.mustangfamilyreunionride.com.
To view a photo gallery from the event, click here:
http://houstonherald.smugmug.com/2015-Mustang-Family-Reunion-Ri